1. Kurt Cobain — $50 million
The lead singer of Nirvana may have taken his own life in 1994, but he still has a presence in the music biz. His widow, controversial and drug-addled Courtney Love, controls his estate and continues to license his name and song catalog to advertising agencies and television shows including Six Feet Under and CSI. In fact, Cobain took over the number one spot following a huge licensing deal that Love made in 2006 — Elvis usually holds the top position on this list. Cobain was famously anti-commercial, so many fans feel uncomfortable with the money the poster boy of grunge continues to pull in.

2. Elvis Presley — $42 million
Until 2006, Elvis had been the number one money-making dead celebrity for years. Die-hard fans continue to­ buy box sets, remastered recordings, biographies, and other Elvis memorabilia by the millions, even though there’s been no new material from the King since he died in 1977. In addition to merchandising, income comes from ticket sales at Graceland and the licensing of Elvis’s identity to developers in Las Vegas who are planning a new Elvis attraction.

3. Charles M. Schulz — $35 million
Snoopy, Woodstock, Charlie Brown, Linus, Peppermint Patty, and Lucy continue to grace the pages of more than 2,400 U.S. newspapers every day. Charles Schulz, the cartoonist behind the “Peanuts” comic strip, died of cancer in 2000, but annual television specials and licensing agreements with apparel companies continue to make Schulz a wealthy man.

4. John Lennon — $24 million
In 1980, Beatles member John Lennon was killed by a crazed fan in New York City and mourned by fans around the world. The Beatles still sell more than a million records every year, even though they split up in 1970. Lennon’s solo work also moves hundreds of thousands of copies each year. In addition, widow Yoko Ono filed a $10 million lawsuit against record company EMI to obtain back royalties and master recordings, which helped boost Lennon’s bank account.

5. Albert Einstein — $20 million
Licensing giant Corbis has image rights to Einstein’s wild-haired visage and says that the physics genius is their most requested figure. Disney pays top dollar for the use of Einstein’s name in their Baby Einstein line, and T-shirts around the globe feature Einstein’s famous face and formula, E=mc2. Einstein died in 1955 at age 76, but every generation since instantly recognizes the great physicist.

6. Andy Warhol — $19 million
Avant-garde pop artist Andy Warhol once said that in the future, everyone will have 15 minutes of fame. He died before he saw how right he was — reality TV appeared only a few years after Warhol’s death in 1987. The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts continues to sign off on deals with companies such as Levi Strauss and Barney’s New York to reproduce Warhol soup cans and portraits for the masses, which keeps the Factory creator cranking out the dough more than two decades after his death.

7. Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss — $10 million
With movies, apparel, and even Broadway musicals based on Geisel’s characters, such as the Cat in the Hat and the Grinch, not to mention dozens of Dr. Seuss titles that continue to fly off the shelves, it’s easy to see how Geisel continues to make money even after his death in 1991.

8. Ray Charles — $10 million
Ray, the hit biopic of 2004, clearly had a lot to do with the resurgence of all things Ray Charles. The beloved singer-songwriter died of liver failure in 2004, but his record sales are better than ever. DVD sales of the Oscar-winning film and biographies of the dynamic performer are up, too, and continue to bring money to his estate.

9. Marilyn Monroe — $8 million
No one before or since has embodied Hollywood glamour like iconic sex symbol Marilyn Monroe. Her platinum blonde hair and breathy voice are gold mines for ad campaigns that want to nab the attention of both male and female audiences. General Motors, Absolut, and Dom Perignon have all paid a pretty price for permission to use Monroe in their advertisements. The controversy surrounding Monroe’s 1962 death has only served to reinforce her popularity.

10. Johnny Cash — $8 million
Like Ray Charles, the “Man in Black” enjoyed newfound popularity posthumously. The Oscar-winning movie Walk the Line greatly increased interest in the country singer-songwriter. In 2006, he sold 3.6 million records, up from 2.8 million the year before. Cash’s estate offers a steady stream of compilations, never-before-heard tunes from the song vault, and remastered versions to keep fans coming back for more, even after his passing in 2003.

11. J.R.R. Tolkien — $7 million
If you saw any of the three Lord of the Rings movies, you paid Tolkien, even though the fantasy novel genius hasn’t been around since 1973. Producer Peter Jackson paid handsomely for rights to make the silver screen version of the trilogy and, financially, it was worth it — the movies are among the highest grossing films of all time. Aside from the novels themselves, which continue to sell well in bookstores around the world, the movie version of the tale brought DVDs, toys, clothes, collectibles, and box sets.

12. George Harrison — $7 million
The “Quiet Beatle” passed in 2001 as a result of cancer, but before he left, he made a lucrative deal with the popular dance/circus/performance troupe Cirque du Soleil. LOVE is a production that pays tribute to the Fab Four by showcasing their song catalog and has quickly become one of the company’s most popular shows. In addition, Harrison’s solo records still sell well, and he collects royalties from Beatles merchandise and lawsuits, too.

13. Bob Marley — $7 million
When people think of reggae music, they think of Bob Marley. This universally recognized Rastafarian still rakes in millions from record sales, largely due to his estate’s savvy handlers. Limited edition CDs, digitally remastered copies of classics, and various other Marley-related items are continuously released, even though he died in 1981.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:
Helen Davies, Marjorie Dorfman, Mary Fons, Deborah Hawkins, Martin Hintz, Linnea Lundgren, David Priess, Julia Clark Robinson, Paul Seaburn, Heidi Stevens, and Steve Theunissen

Rapper 50 Cent says he never would have bought a Connecticut mansion once owned by boxer Mike Tyson had he realised it would require millions in repairs and renovations.

The rapper, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, testified in court as part of his lawsuit against engineers BVH Integrated Services.

50 Cent said he hired the firm to inspect the Farmington mansion in 2003 when he was buying it from Tyson’s ex-wife.

He assumed the company’s estimate of $US500,000 in repairs was “a legitimate assessment” of what the repairs would cost.

He spent about $US6 million fixing the house and says about $US3 million of that was excessive.

BVH lawyer Michael Byrne says 50 Cent wanted “extravagant and costly upgrades.”

Vanessa Hudgens would appear nude in a movie – but only if the role required it.

The High School Musical star would happily strip off on screen but wants to wait until she’s older as she doesn’t feel ready yet.

The 20-year-old actress, who is dating heartthrob Zac Efron, said: “I will show nudity in a film when the time is right. Right now, I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing it.

“When the time’s right, if it’s an amazing movie that I’m really passionate about and that’s what it calls for, then we’ll see.”

Although she doesn’t feel it is appropriate for her to strip off now, explicit photos of Vanessa have already been seen.

In September 2007, pictures of her posing provocatively in lingerie were leaked on the internet, as well as one naked shot.

She later apologized for the images, saying she was “embarrassed over the situation” and regretted having “taken those photos”.

A statement from Disney – who make the High School Musical movies – said: “Vanessa has apologized for what was obviously a lapse in judgment. We hope she’s learned a valuable lesson.”

Russell Brand is dating Hugh Hefner’s ex-girlfriend.

The British comic star has been spotted making late-night visits to the Hollywood home of Playboy Playmate Holly Madison, who split from the Playboy founder last year.

Holly, 29, and Russell, 33, met at a party thrown by rapper Jay-Z in Las Vegas two weeks ago.

Friends say the pair couldn’t keep their eyes off each other and have been meeting up in Los Angeles – where Russell is shooting new film Get Him To The Greek – nearly every night since.

A source said: “Russell has really hit it off with Holly. She’s a big star in the US, which he finds really attractive.

“And his humor makes her laugh all the time. Russell has been making late-night visits to her home in the Hollywood Hills.

“He’s been there three times in the past week.”

Holly – who appeared on the latest season of US TV talent show Dancing With The Stars lived with Hefner, 83, in his infamous Playboy Mansion for seven years.

Kim Kardashian showed off her new hair color in New York City yesterday afternoon. The E! reality starlet first revealed her lighter locks on her Twitter page. She wrote: “Hey everyone I have a drastic new look! I WENT BLONDE!!!! Do u like it?”

I do not really think it looks that blonde..

Casey Aldridge, the father of actress Jamie Lynn Spears’ baby, has been injured in an early morning one-vehicle crash.

Louisiana State Police Master Trooper Billy Zeigler said Aldridge was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries after the 1.30am Sunday crash near the Mississippi-Louisiana state line.

Zeigler said Aldridge had been charged with misdemeanor careless operation of a vehicle.

Zeigler said it’s unclear if others were in the vehicle.

Spears starred in the Nickelodeon TV series Zoey 101 and is the younger sister of pop singer Britney Spears.

The credit crunch appears to be affecting Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner, who is reportedly selling his Holmby Hills mansion.

The Los Angeles Times reported the mansion, which backs on to the Los Angeles Country Club and shares a lot line with the Playboy Mansion, was on the market for US$28 million.

Hefner, 82, bought the mansion for US$6.7 million in 1998.

It features five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, three fireplaces, a library and massive lawns.

Angelina Jolie reportedly “flipped out” after walking in on partner Brad Pitt giving the couple’s nanny a back massage.

Star magazine reported Jolie fired the couple’s nanny after walking past the open door of eight-month-old twins Knox and Vivienne.

In a story picked up by several media outlets, an insider told the magazine that Jolie saw Pitt sitting on the bed, rubbing the back of the couple’s nanny.

“She got right in Brad’s face, screaming at the top of her lungs, and told the nanny to get out of her house and never come back.

Brad tried to console the nanny and calm the twins, who had started to cry.

The insider said Jolie then slapped Pitt across the face.

A stunned Pitt reportedly left the house on his motorcycle.

Jolie and Pitt have six children together.

It is reporting that Chris Brown, who is trying hard to spin the PR wheels faster than a jerbil has agreed to pay Rihanna the amount of $10million if “he so much as squeezes her hand the wrong way”. The same source is also reporting that Chris will most likely appear with Rihanna on Oprah to discuss his anger management issues (although Oprah warned Rihanna through her show that Brown will hit her again ).

The 19-year-old star is also said to have agreed to the deal as part of what his management team called “Project Mea Culpa” in an attempt to save his career. A source said his management team were “trying to turn a bad situation into something good”.

And because the situation is really bad, aka 4 years in the big house if he gets convicted, the two lovebirds have “reconciled” as part of the PR campaign and are trying to show a united front.

A source within his management team said: “Obviously this is a public relations campaign, but it only will work if there’s genuine healing, contrition and a path to preventing future problems. “It’s another example of trying to turn a bad situation into something good where people can learn to change habits.”

Meanwhile, Rihanna’s producer claims the Umbrella hitmaker is “easing” herself back to work and is recording some new material. Adonis Shropshire said: “She’s really just easing back into it. Just a couple of ideas here and there over the last couple of weeks. It’s coming out good. “She’s really going in the same direction. She always brings her best efforts every time she steps into the stage or the studio. Her next album will eclipse what she’s done before, so it’s going to be hot.” He also believes Rihanna is slowly getting over the incident, mainly thanks to her music. “She’s doing OK,” he added. “I mean, of course with the situation, she’s all right.

Singer Chris Brown has been formally charged with assault and making a criminal threat, both felonies stemming from his alleged attack of girlfriend Rihanna.

He is due back to court later this afternoon at 3:30 PM so we shall see what end up happening.

Brown will probably get up and dance for the judge and all will be well…